Abdominal drainage tube



March 29, 1960 R A, BUYERS 2,930,378

ABDOMINAL DRAINAGE TUBE Filed Sept. 9, 1957 2,930,378 BDOMINAL DRAINAGE TUBEv Robert" -A. Buyers, Norristown, Pa.; assignor to Davo] Rubber Company, a corporation of Rbmleisiand Application September 9, 1957,'SeriaINo. 682,956

3 Claims? (Cl.128"-350) "The present' invention relates* generally'tol surgical nited States Patent l apparatus vand more specifically t the provision'of'a novel and improved abdominal" drainage tube".

Arprimary` object` of` ther instant invention is the 'provision' of an abdominltbe for rapidfandeffective draining off` abdominal cavities.l

Another important and" 'basic object ofy my invention is the provisionof anovel` and improved abdominal drainage tubeof 'the air-vent suction type.

Another'object ofr `the"instant"invention is the pro'- visionof` an air-vent suctinitube forv draining abdominal cavitiesgfwhichtuhe"is highly exible and easy to manipulate by the"medical"technician, as well as causing less"disco`rnfont"to the patient;

A further: important object 'of my4 invention isV the provision off'anr abdominal4 drainage tube which" willV insure substantially completeldrainageof thev abdominal cavityinfafrelatively short periodlof "time, andthe penetration" of which may be localized to theA `cavity which is 'to' be" 'dranedi Still-'another object ofthisl invention' isthe provision of "ani abdominal. drainage t'tube' of Yth=,'airvent 'suction typewhich mayfb'readily fand economicallyl manufacparentesi-Mag;29;raso

2. o f once the pressure within 'the cavitylequalzesi'withthat of the atmosphere, the -fluid'will'j drain only by gravity or by suction, and if one is to employ suction, as is the.

procedure in the'method under consideration, air'must` first be introduced.

Thus, apparatus in the'form of' atuhe is "provi'de d, y

said tube having an air-vent or inowlumenand a sep; arate lumen to` whichsuction is "applied: This general type of arrangement not only/enables afrnorey positive and' complete draining action to befacornplished,fbut' also, is advantageous in 'that lthe itube may beintroduce'd directly -to the cavity location, vthus 'leaving peritoneal fluid remote from the' 'localized-abscess undisturbed. Since this remotefluidis often sterile, ,itis 'a decided advantage to leave it: undisturbed@ Where/drainage is effected by gravity,/h(5v5/eifel",Y beenfound that the drainage tube' should" be jin't'roducefd- "at the lowest' 'jpoint inthefperitonealicavity, 'w ""the' result1 that infection is frequently introducedvto' areasfof Athe' cavity which-ac'- tually werey sterile before-the "'draina'gef operationwas commenced.Y A

Referring now to thej drawiri withthe instant' inventionL" The device 1 0-comprises an outer tube 1 2'fwhicl'r is5c1sed 'offj"at its inner end ."asfat Y 14 and which is/"pr'ovided with apluralityof'circumferentially fand aiiiallyspaced openings 16, itl beingcnote'd that said openings are` locatedv injthe portionl of ,tube 12 most closely adjacent: to closedtend"'14.H Adjacentl 'its outer end18, thetub' 12"'sprov'ided withjan yinltduct ZiLvthe purpose of whic willhereinafter'bemad appar? eilt .Y

Caxially positioned2 withirlL the tub 12 is `fan inner or secndv tub'ZZj'said finneritubefbein of vsubstantially smaller diamete' thnithe ou ,tube 12whereuponithe Wall'sf of said tilbes ar s edfrelatn; as illustrated,

tured in viewof the factith'atf themaincoxnponent 'parts Fig. 3 is anelevational view of the inner tube per se which forms a prtof the' instantconstruction;

Figi-4 isa` plan-view of the-instantiarrangernent'with Fig. 5 is a section, on an enlarged scale, taken on lin 5 5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section, on an enlarged scale,taken on line 66 of Fig. 1; and v lFig. 7 is a section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 2.

Drainage of the abdominal cavity has long been one of the more troublesome problems during the performance Y of abdominal surgery, and with respect to this, it has been found that the air-vent suction method is the most rapid and eiective means for achieving a substantially complete and positive drainage. Briey speaking, the basic principle of this method is dependent upon the simple and well-known fact that for fiuid to escape from a closed cavity, air must tirst enter unless, of course, the uid is under pressure. Thus, when the abdomen is filled with ascitic'uid, or pus, or blood, the Huid readily escapes through a single lumen if under pressure. However,

` tuin'resultfsy lriimore rapid a A" 'Y important feature-#f the*instntinvrin resides the same time, the patient is subject to less discomfort, although Vit will be understood that the patient is most frequently under'anesthesia during an operation of this type.

As will be seen most clearly in Figf2, the inner tube 22 extends outwardly of the outer end 18 of tube 12, it being noted that the latter is closed ofr` at its outer end as at 28. The extreme outer end 30 of tube 22 communicates with la bulb 32 secured to the outer end of the device 10 by any suitable and desirable means. The bulb 32 is provided with a relatively large opening 34 in its outer surface, and said bulb is illled with some sort .of a filter 36, such as sterile cotton, in order to filter out any gross particles which may exist in the air passing therethrough. Y

The opposite extremity of the tube 22 is closed oi as at 38, and adjacent thereto vthere is providedan ntegral, outwardly extending, circumferential projectionl 4G,

gsgfthere is shownfgenerally at 1 0 a drainag'eff'tube-constructed in accordanceV said projection functioning to make a snug frictional engagement with the inner surface of tube 12. Thus, the projection 40 and closed end 28 of tube 12 function to maintain the tube 22 properly centered within the said outer `tube 12 whereby to maintain a substantially uniform intermediate'area 24 between the walls of thetwo tubes. In addition, the gripping engagement between projection 40 and the inner surface of tube 12 tends to maintain the inner tube in proper longitudinal relation with respect to the outer tube since otherwise it might buckle or compress, an action which would have a detrimental effect on the overall apparatus when in operation.

`In operation and use, the tube is exteriorized through a stab wound so that the inner end 14 extends into the cavity to be drained, and then the tube is anchored to the skin in a well-known fashion. A sump pump (not shown) is attached to inlet duct 20 whereby to provide a continuous suction therethrough tothe intermediate area 24. ings 16 to cause drainage of the abdominal cavity. At the same time, the inner, tube 22 will function as an air-vent, the filter 36 insuring that any gross particles which may be present in the air will be filtered therefrom before the air is introduced to the abdominal cavity. It has been found in practice that the introduction of filtered air to the abdominal cavity does not have a harmful effect upon peritoneal surfaces.

In order to prevent collapsing of outer tube 12 when the suction is applied to the intermediate area 24, it will be noted that the walls of said tube are constructed substantially thicker than the walls of inner tube 22. This substantially appreciable wall thickness imparts the required degree of rigidity to the overall apparatus without substantially affecting the resilience and yieldability thereof. As will be apparent, if this substantial wall thickness were not provided, there would be a tendency for the outer walls to collapse under suction, which collapsing action might cause occlusion of the area 24 and some of the openings 16 and 26.

With respect to the afore described projection 40 at the inner end of tube 22, it will be understood that said projection may be provided in any desired way. Since, however, I prefer to manufacture Ythe tube 22 by successive molding dips, it will be noted that the projection 40 is illustrated as being formed by a fabric filler 42 positioned between the inner and outer dip layers of the said tube. Y While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except in so far as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim: Y

1. An abdominal drainage tube of the air-vent suction type, comprising a first tube of resilient, exible material,

The suction will then be applied through open- Y said first tube having a closed inner end for insertion into an abdominal cavity, a plurality of circumferentially and axially spaced openings in said first tube wall adjacent its said closed end, a second tube also of resilient, exible material coaxially mounted within said first tube with the walls of said first and second tubes in spaced relation whereby to define an intermediate area therebetween, said second tube having a plurality of circumferentially and axially spaced openings in its wall adjacent its inner end, means blocking off the outer end of said first tube but allowing access to said second tube, and inlet means in communication with said first tube adjacent its outer end for enabling a suction to be applied to the said intermediate area whereupon said second tube functions as an air vent to the abdominal cavity.

2. An abdominal drainage tube of the air-vent suction type, comprising a first tube of resilient, flexible material, said first tube having a closed inner end for insertion into an abdominal cavity, at least one opening in said first tube wall adjacent its said closed end, a second tube also of resilient, fiexible material coaxially mounted within said first tube with the walls of said first and second tubes in spaced relation whereby to define an intermediate area therebetween, said second tube having at least one opening in its wall adjacent its inner end, means blocking off the outer end of said first tube but allowing access to said second tube, and inlet means in communication with said first tube adjacent its outer end for enabling a suction to be applied to the said intermediate area whereupon said second tube functions as an air vent to the abdominal cavity, said second tube being closed at its inner end and having an outward, circumferentially extending projection adjacent said inner end, said projection making a snug frictional engagement with the inner surface of said first tube.

3. An abdominal drainage tube of the air-vent suetion type, comprising a first tube of resilient, flexible ma ferial, said first tube having a closed inner end for insertion into an abdominal cavity, at least one opening in said first tube wall adjacent its said closed end, a second tube also of resilient, flexible material coaxially mounted within said first tube with the walls of said rst and seeond tubes in spaced relation whereby to define an intermediate area therebetween, said second tube having at least one opening in its wall adjacent its inner end, means blocking off the outer end of said first tube but allowing access to said second tube, andinlet means in communication with` said first tube adjacent its outer end for enabling a suction to be applied to the said intermediate area whereupon said second tube functions as an air vent to the abdominal cavity, said first tube having a substantially greater wall thickness than said second tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

